Overview
- President Donald Trump said Monday the United States destroyed a quay or large installation on Venezuela's coast that he described as tied to drug-smuggling boats, offering no location or agency attribution.
- The Pentagon and the White House have not publicly confirmed the operation, and Venezuela has issued no official comment.
- If accurate, the strike would mark a possible first onshore action in a campaign that has previously targeted suspected trafficking vessels, with reporting of more than 100 deaths in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
- U.S. pressure on Caracas also includes a strengthened military presence in the Caribbean and a blockade targeting sanctioned Venezuelan tankers.
- Investigations describe a July directive authorizing action against groups labeled narcoterrorists, political and migration goals shaping the strategy, shifts in Chevron's license tied to concerns about Chinese interest in oil assets, and legal criticism over civilian risks.